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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrite

Michigan State University

Nitrite, closely related to the fertilizer chemical nitrate, comes from urban runoff and from fertilizer applied to agricultural lands to pollute drinking water. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Excessive nitrite in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer.

 

59

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.0189 ppm91ND - 0.170 ppm
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017N/A00N/A
2018ND340ND
2019ND160ND

ppm = parts per million

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1 ppm

The legal limit for nitrite, established in 1991, was based on the rate of conversion of ingested nitrate into nitrite in adults. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to nitrite exposure.

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-08-21LLF34202ND
2014-09-30LLF41171ND
2014-09-30LLF41172ND
2014-09-30LLF41173ND
2014-09-30LLF411740.170 ppm
2014-10-23LLF44199ND
2014-10-23LLF44291ND
2014-10-23LLF44290ND
2014-10-23LLF44292ND
2018-02-28LLH68120ND
2018-02-28LLH68123ND
2018-02-28LLH68118ND
2018-02-28LLH68122ND
2018-02-28LLH68121ND
2018-02-28LLH68124ND
2018-02-28LLH68115ND
2018-02-28LLH68117ND
2018-02-28LLH68112ND
2018-02-28LLH68116ND
2018-02-28LLH68114ND
2018-02-28LLH68113ND
2018-04-26LLH77525ND
2018-04-27LLH77589ND
2018-04-27LLH77592ND
2018-04-27LLH77588ND
2018-04-27LLH77587ND
2018-04-27LLH77586ND
2018-04-27LLH77590ND
2018-04-27LLH77591ND
2018-05-02LLH78371ND
2018-05-02LLH78369ND
2018-05-02LLH78370ND
2018-05-02LLH78372ND
2018-05-02LLH78373ND
2018-05-09LLH79534ND
2018-05-09LLH79533ND
2018-05-17LLH81098ND
2018-05-17LLH81099ND
2018-05-23LLH81944ND
2018-05-23LLH81945ND
2018-05-23LLH81943ND
2018-07-19LLH94101ND
2018-10-23LLI12548ND
2019-03-07LLI28373ND
2019-03-07LLI28372ND
2019-03-07LLI28370ND
2019-03-07LLI28371ND
2019-03-07LLI28374ND
2019-03-20LLI30025ND
2019-03-20LLI30026ND
2019-03-20LLI30027ND
2019-03-20LLI30028ND
2019-04-03LLI31915ND
2019-04-09LLI32593ND
2019-04-09LLI32595ND
2019-04-09LLI32594ND
2019-04-22LLI34143ND
2019-04-22LLI34142ND
2019-04-22LLI34141ND